The Meaning of Luke 6:34 Explained

Luke 6:34

KJV: And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

YLT: and if ye lend to those of whom ye hope to receive back, what grace have ye? for also the sinful lend to sinners -- that they may receive again as much.

Darby: And if ye lend to those from whom ye hope to receive, what thank is it to you? for even sinners lend to sinners that they may receive the like.

ASV: And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  if  ye lend  [to them] of  whom  ye hope  {5625;1679:5725} to receive,  what  thank  have  ye?  for  sinners  also  lend  to sinners,  to  receive  as much  again. 

What does Luke 6:34 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 6:27-38 - How To Treat Our Fellow-Men
Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount differs from that of Matthew, only as each views the great discourse from his own standpoint. By one it is viewed as the manifesto of the King; by the other, as the proclamation of "the Man Christ Jesus" to man.
Notice the secret of blessedness! Here is the draught-sketch of a life of abounding blessing, overflowing with mercy and lovingkindness. With what measure we mete out our love to men, they will measure back their love to us, using our own measures for the purpose.
Each of these Beatitudes is a gateway into blessedness. It is not that blessedness is the reward of virtue, but it is the necessary and invariable result. Only we must be good, because it is right and God-pleasing to be so, and the blessedness will be as natural as the bloom on the peach. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 6

1  Jesus reproves the Pharisees;
12  chooses apostles;
17  heals the diseased;
20  preaches to his disciples before the people: the beattitudes;
27  Love your Enemy
37  Do not Judge
43  A Tree and Its Fruit
46  The House on the Rock

Greek Commentary for Luke 6:34

If ye lend [εαν δανισητε]
Third-class condition, first aorist active subjunctive from δανιζω — danizō (old form δανειζω — daneizō) to lend for interest in a business transaction (here in active to lend and Matthew 5:42 middle to borrow and nowhere else in N.T.), whereas κιχρημι — kichrēmi (only Luke 11:5 in N.T.) means to loan as a friendly act. [source]
To receive again as much [ινα απολαβωσιν τα ισα]
Second aorist active subjunctive of απολαμβανω — apolambanō old verb, to get back in full like απεχω — apechō in Luke 6:24. Literally here, “that they may get back the equal” (principal and interest, apparently). It could mean “equivalent services.” No parallel in Matthew. [source]
Lend [δανείζετε]
Properly, at interest. [source]
Sinners [οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ]
The article marks them as a class. So, often in New Testament, as when classed with publicans. [source]
Love []
Not φιλοῦσι , which implies an instinctive, affectionate attachment, but ἀγαπῶσιν , of a sentiment based on judgment and calculation, which selects its object for a reason. See further, on John 21:15-17. Tynd., the very sinners love their lovers. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 6:34

Luke 16:25 Receivedst [ἀπέλαβες]
Received back ( ἀπό ) as a reward or quittance. Compare Luke 6:34; Luke 18:30; Luke 23:41. [source]
Luke 1:30 Grace [χάριν]
From the same root as χαίρω ,to rejoice. I. Primarily that which gives joy or pleasure; and hence outward beauty, loveliness, something which delights the beholder. Thus Homer, of Ulysses going to the assembly: “Athene shed down manly grace or beauty upon him” (“Odyssey,” ii., 12); and Septuagint, Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 3:22. Substantially the same idea, agreeableness, is conveyed in Luke 4:22, respecting the gracious words, lit., words of grace, uttered by Christ. So Ephesians 4:29. II. As a beautiful or agreeable sentiment felt and expressed toward another; kindness, favor, good-will. 2 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 8:7, 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Luke 1:30; Luke 2:40; Acts 2:47. So of the responsive sentiment of thankfulness. See Luke 6:32, Luke 6:33, Luke 6:34:; Luke 17:9; but mostly in the formula thanks to God; Romans 6:17; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:3. III. The substantial expression of good-will; a boon, a favor, a gift; but not in New Testament. See Romans 5:15, where the distinction is made between χάρις , grace, and δωρεὰ ἐν χάριτι , a gift in grace. So a gratification or delight, in classical Greek only; as the delight in battle, in sleep, etc. IV. The higher Christian signification, based on the emphasis offreeness in the gift or favor, and, as commonly in New Testament, denoting the free, spontaneous, absolute loving-kindness of God toward men, and so contrasted with debt, law, works, sin. The word does not occur either in Matthew or Mark. [source]
Luke 16:25 Receivedst [απελαβες]
Second aorist indicative of απολαμβανω — apolambanō old verb to get back what is promised and in full. See also Luke 6:34; Luke 18:30; Luke 23:41. [source]
Luke 6:35 But [πλην]
Plain adversative like πλην — plēn in Luke 6:24. Never despairing Μηδεν — Mēden is read by A B L Bohairic and is the reading of Westcott and Hort. The reading μηδενα — mēdena is translated “despairing of no man.” The Authorized Version has it “hoping for nothing again,” a meaning for απελπιζω — apelpizō with no parallel elsewhere. Field (Otium Nor.iii. 40) insists that all the same the context demands this meaning because of απελπιζειν — apelpizein in Luke 6:34, but the correct reading there is ελπιζειν — elpizein not απελπιζειν — apelpizein Here Field‘s argument falls to the ground. The word occurs in Polybius, Diodorus, lxx with the sense of despairing and that is the meaning here. D and Old Latin documents have nihil desperantes, but the Vulgate has nihil inde sperantes (hoping for nothing thence) and this false rendering has wrought great havoc in Europe. “On the strength of it Popes and councils have repeatedly condemned the taking of any interest whatever for loans. As loans could not be had without interest, and Christians were forbidden to take it, money lending passed into the hands of the Jews, and added greatly to the unnatural detestation in which Jews were held” (Plummer). By “never despairing” or “giving up nothing in despair” Jesus means that we are not to despair about getting the money back. We are to help the apparently hopeless cases. Medical writers use the word for desperate or hopeless cases. [source]
Romans 1:27 Lust [ορεχει]
Only here in N.T. Unseemliness (ασχημοσυνην — aschēmosunēn). Old word from ασχημον — aschēmon (deformed). In N.T. only here and Revelation 16:15. Recompense See note on 2 Corinthians 6:13 for only other N.T. instance of this late Pauline word, there in good sense, here in bad. Which was due (hēn edei). Imperfect active for obligation still on them coming down from the past. This debt will be paid in full (apolambanontes pay back as in Luke 6:34, and due as in Luke 23:41). Nature will attend to that in their own bodies and souls. [source]
Romans 1:27 Recompense [αντιμιστιαν]
See note on 2 Corinthians 6:13 for only other N.T. instance of this late Pauline word, there in good sense, here in bad. Which was due (hēn edei). Imperfect active for obligation still on them coming down from the past. This debt will be paid in full (apolambanontes pay back as in Luke 6:34, and due as in Luke 23:41). Nature will attend to that in their own bodies and souls. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 6:34 mean?

And if you lend [to those] from whom you expect to receive back what to you credit is it Even sinners to sinners lend that they might receive the same amount
καὶ ἐὰν δανίσητε παρ’ ὧν ἐλπίζετε λαβεῖν ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν καὶ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς δανίζουσιν ἵνα ἀπολάβωσιν τὰ ἴσα

δανίσητε  you  lend  [to  those] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δανείζω 
Sense: to lend money.
ὧν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἐλπίζετε  you  expect 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐλπίζω  
Sense: to hope.
λαβεῖν  to  receive  back 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
χάρις  credit 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
ἐστίν  is  it 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
καὶ  Even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἁμαρτωλοὶ  sinners 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἁμαρτωλός  
Sense: devoted to sin, a sinner.
ἁμαρτωλοῖς  to  sinners 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἁμαρτωλός  
Sense: devoted to sin, a sinner.
δανίζουσιν  lend 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: δανείζω 
Sense: to lend money.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ἀπολάβωσιν  they  might  receive 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπολαμβάνω  
Sense: to receive.
ἴσα  same  amount 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἴσος  
Sense: equal, in quantity or quality.

What are the major concepts related to Luke 6:34?

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